Former Eagle Batherson scores twice to lead Armada to win

Former Cape Breton Screaming Eagle fan favourite Drake Batherson was a constant threat to goalie Kevin Mandolese during his return to Centre 200 on Sunday as a member of the visiting Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. Batherson, who was traded to the suburban Montréal team in January, scored two goals to lead the Armada to a 4-1 win. - David Jala

SYDNEY — Hollywood would be hard pressed to write a better script for Drake Batherson’s return to Cape Breton.

On Sunday, the 19-year-old forward, who starred for Canada’s gold medal-winning team at the recent IIHF world junior championship, scored two goals and earned first-star honours to lead the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada to a 4-1 win over the Screaming Eagles.

It was Batherson’s first visit to Centre 200 since he was dealt to the Armada in a blockbuster trade during the Québec Major Junior Hockey League’s holiday trading period.

And the day belonged to the Ottawa Senators highly-regarded prospect right from the start. Prior to the matinee contest that was played before a crowd of 2,917, Batherson was honoured with a video tribute that was played on the giant scoreboard. He was then presented with a commemorative front page by the Cape Breton Post and a Screaming Eagles jersey by team president Andre Cote.

Then came the piece de résistance, as Batherson’s great uncle, Matt Minglewood (a.k.a. Roy Batherson), sang the national anthem.

“I was pretty fired up and after the anthem I went over and gave him a hug as I hadn’t seen him for a long time – it was really great for the Eagles to bring him in to do that, it was awesome,” he said.

Once the puck dropped, it was business as usual for both teams and the home squad took it to the league-leading Armada as they crashed and banged their way to several goal-scoring opportunities, all of which were denied by Blainville goalie Emile Samson, who at 138 pounds is among the lightest players in the QMJHL.

Then Batherson took over and finished writing an almost perfect script for his return to the Nest. With just over five minutes remaining in the opening period, Batherson streaked down the left side and buried a wicked wrist shot past Cape Breton goalie Kevin Mandolese. Less than two minutes later, he scored again as he tipped an Alexandre Alain shot past Mandolese while the Armada were on the power play.

Batherson, who after wearing number 19 for the Screaming Eagles is now sporting number 91, was a constant threat and several times almost completed the hat trick.

Mathieu Boissonneault gave the visitors a three-goal lead early in the second period, before 20-year-old Ross MacDougall, who has committed to Acadia University for next season, scored Cape Breton’s only goal of the game. Czech import Jan Hladonik rounded out the scoring late in the third period.

Following the game, a smiling Batherson took time out from signing some autographs to talk about his return to Centre 200.

“It was a little weird coming in at the other end of the rink rather than being on the home side and warming up on the other end, but it was lot of fun playing against all the boys I developed a relationship with over the last year and a half, it was a lot of fun,” said Batherson, whose father, Norm, played several seasons in the AHL before wrapping up his career in Germany.

“But things have been going great so far with Blainville – the first couple of weeks were a little hard because of the language barrier and the team plays a bit of a different system, so it just took some time to get used to that, but now I’m feeling more comfortable.”

The Armada may not care what language Batherson speaks as the team has not lost in regulation since he joined the squad in early January. Batherson now has eight goals and 16 assists for 24 points since joining the Armada with his season totals improving to 25 goals and 38 assists for 63 points in just 38 games.

Although his team lost, Cape Breton head coach and general manager Marc-André Dumont was pleased with the performance of his young squad.

“We had a great start, we were prepared and we didn’t show any signs of intimidation — the Armada were very opportunistic, but we didn’t stop, the players kept going and I think our players can grow from this game as they see what extra is required to be successful,” said Dumont, who received defenceman Kyle Havlena, 17, forward Shaun Miller, 18, and 16-year-old prospect Félix Lafrance, in addition to a 2020 first-round draft pick in the Batherson deal.

Seeing former teammates traded away is nothing new to Cape Breton captain Phélix Martineau, who midway through last season bade farewell to Pierre-Luc Dubois, who has since become a regular with the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets.

“It’s always a bit weird, but we know that we have to go out there and go hard anyway – still, it was nice to see him, and I know he must be happy with the way things went for him,” said the 20-year-old Martineau.

The Screaming Eagles, who host the Acadie-Bathurst Titan for games on Friday and Saturday, get a second chance against Blainville when they visit the Montreal suburb later this month.